Wine |
Road 13 Honest John’s Rosé 2009 |
Appellation |
Okanagan |
Grape Varietal |
76% Cabernet Franc, 16% Syrah, 8% Riesling |
Alcohol % |
13 |
Price |
$18 |
Quantity |
1,859 cases |
Where to get it |
VQA, LDB and other wine stores; winery; and restaurants |
Point score |
88 |
This is one of the earliest of the 2009 rosé wines to be released, and in a volume – nearly 1,900 cases – that confirms the strength of the demand for these wines. Gone are the days when men would not drink pink and, if they did, only in summer. Rosé wines have begun to show up on tables year round because of their food versatility. I wouldn’t mind drinking this one during the rest of this year.
Michael Bartier, the winemaker at Road 13, let the juice of the Cabernet Franc and Syrah grapes soak on the skins for 24 hours to extract colour, flavour and a bit of tannin. The Riesling was added later to lighten the colour while elevating the fruity flavours. This is somewhat unconventional but quite effective.
The colour is a vibrant, deep pink. The wine’s aromas are appealing. I was reminded a bit of stewed plums; the winemaker speaks of strawberry aromas. The flavours deliver more notes of strawberry and cherry. The winemaker found Demerara sugar; maybe he eats more brown sugar than I do. I found the wine to be substantial on the palate, with a crisp dry and refreshing finish.
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